Transfer device



pa'ifl 2, I935. s. EGGLESTQN 1,9

TRANSFER DEVICE Filed March 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l FOE/VA CE No. 1

ROLL ING MILL I-TJkNAcE No. 2.

INVENTORQ SM/TH faeuss'ro/v,

M, M .4 W011,

ATTORNEYS.

2 Sheets$heet 2 Apfifi 1935 s. EGGLESTON TRANSFER DEVICE Filed March 16, 1933 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 messes TRANSFER DEVICE Smith Eggleston, St. Paul, Minn" assigiior to Standard Conveyor Company, North'St. Paul,

Minn.

Application March 16, 1933, SeriaI No. 661,011

11 Claims. (01. 198-32) This invention relates to conveyors, and more particularly to a conveyor for transferring plates from a furnace ofa rolling mill.

In sheet mills, the furnaces are usually in'pairs ,5- with one rolling mill common to two furnaces and centered therebetween. Ordinarily, the two furnaces discharge the metal sheet plates alternately to the rolling..mill. The most important consideration is speed in transferring sheets from the furnace to the mill, this, since loss of time in transfer cools the sheet and affects the rolling operation to disadvantage. Thus, it important that the sheet be transferred from the furnace to the rolls in the shortest possible time. 'Another important requirement is that the sheets be in proper-alignment in making the transfer to the rolls so that an extra operation of straightening the sheet is not required.

In the past, where a rolling mill is served with 1 plates by a pair of furnaces operating alternately, the devices for transferring theplates from the furnaces to the rolling mill consisted of curved converging sections either of rollers, castors, or wheels. The disadvantages of the. converging unitsis that'it is difficult with them to place the sheets at the rolling mills in proper alignment and that the distance travelled by the plates from the furnace to the rolling mill is too greatand, as a result thereof, the. time required for the transfer is toolong, and the plates are cooled to a greater degree than is desirable.

An object of this invention is to convey plates from a'furnace to a rolling, mill'in the shortest possible time. 1

Another object 'oflthe invention is to provide a sheet metal transfer device which conveys a plate from a furnace to a rolling mill in the shortest possible path.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal transfer device which transfers the plate from the furnace to a rolling mill in exact alignment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal transfer device which is automatically operated to transfer. plates from a pair of furnaces to a single rolling mill along the shortest possible path in the shortest possible time and in exact alignment.

According to this invention, a series of parallel live rollers are placed at the discharge of each of a pair of furnaces. The series of rollers before furnace No. 1, for example, are rotated to form alive roller conveyor and act-to remove'tlie plate from furnace No. 1. Likewise, the series of rollers in front offurnace, No. 2 are: rotated accordance with this invention, and,

to. serve as live rollers and convey the plate from furnace'No. 2. .As iscustomary, the rolling mill is centered between the two furnaces. Athird series of rollers is placed between the series of rollers located at the dischargesof the two furnaces and is in alignmentwith the rolling mill.

and serves to convey the plates discharged alternately by the two furnaces to the rolling mill.

Associated with each of the live roller conveyors serving the furnaces is a push bar which is automatically placed in movement by the progress of a plate, and which moves transversely across its associated live roller conveyor to shift the plate under movement ontothe central conveyor in exact alignment withv the rolling mill. i The two push bars are automatically opera-ted. Thepush bar whichserves to shift the plate from the furnace No. 1, for example, returns automatically when the plate it shifts is in alignmentwith the rolling mill, and the bar which'serves to shift the plate from furnace No. 2, for example,

comes automatically into play. The details of the arrangementtwill now be described-"with. reference to the drawings, ofwhich:

Fig. 1 is-a plan view looking downwardly upon the sheet metal transfer device,- constructed in Fig. 2 is a sectionalv viewalong the lines 2- ofFig. 1. n

Referring now'to the drawings, at the dis-1 charge of what is designated as furnace No. lare the series of parallel live rollers 4 which are rotated through the, intermediary of the bevelled. gears 5, the shaft 6, the sprocket 1, chain-8,

sprocket 9,-and electric motor H). "A similar series of live rollers 4 are placed at the discharge of the furnace designated as furnace No. ,2. These. rollers, which are designated by the numeral l2, are connected'one to each of the rollers 4 and are rotated therewith. It is intended, when the furnace is in operation, thatthe live rollers 4 and I2 shallbe continuously operated. Another series of rollers H are placed between the two series of rollers 4 and i2, and, beingconnectedwith the rollers 4 and I2, are rotatedsimultaneously therewith. These rollers H are in alignment with the rolling mill and serve to discharge the plates which are shifted thereon from the series of rollers 4 and'l2, to the rolling mill.

Associated with furnace No. 1 and its live rollers 4 is the pushbar 3. This bar comprises a structural-member It on which are mounted the plurality of rollers l5. Likewise, associated with furnace No. 2 and the rollers 12 is thedeflector bar "i on which are mounted the plurality of rollers IT. The bars l3 and I8 are mounted on opposite ends of the truck frame IS. The truck frame, in turn, is mounted upon the truck wheels l9, which engage the track 20. Attached to the truck frame I8 is the bracket 2|, to the lower portion 22 of which, is rotatably supported one end of the connecting rod 23. The other end of the rod 23 is rotatably supported by a pin 24 connected to the chain 25. The chain 25 rotates over the sprockets 26 and 21 from the driving force of the electric motor 28, which rotates its sprocket 29, chain 30, and sprocket 3 I, associated with sprocket 26. As the motor 28 is operated, the pair of push bars are shifted from one extreme position to the other by movement of the connecting rod 23 with the chain 25.

In operation, assume, for example, that a plate is discharged by furnace No. 1 onto the live rollers 4. When the plate reaches a certain position where it is almost totally discharged from the furnace, it rides over and depresses a raised roller 32, or similar device, which closes an electrical contact connecting the driving motor 28 with electrical power through its associated supply wire. When this happens, the push bar I3 is started in movement to shift the plate A from the position indicated to the position occupied by plate B. It is seen that the plate, when first discharged from the furnace, moves in a straight line across the transfer device through the rotation of the live rollers 4. When the contact closing device 32 is closed by the progress of the plate, the push bar starts to move, causing the plate to travel in two directions simultaneously, that is, transverse of the device by rotation of the live rollers 4, and longitudinal of the device by movement of the push bar I 3, the resultant path taken by the plate being indicated by the dash-dot lines extending from opposite corners of plate A to plate B.

In the position of the apparatus shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, plate B has just been shifted by push bar l6 from the live rollers l2 completely onto the live rollers l I, where it is in exact alignment with the rolling mill and is in the process of being discharged thereto by movement of the live rollers H. The push bar l6, together with its rollers ll, holds the plate B in exact alignment with the rolling mill. The plate designated as A has just completely emerged from the furnace No. 1 and as soon as the end of the connecting rod connected to the chain 25, is carried past the dead center of the sprocket 21, the push bar l3 will be started in movement to shift the plate A to the position shown as occupied by plate B, the latter plate being simultaneously moved by the rollers l l into the rolling mill.

A similar contact device 32 is associated with furnace No. 2 and the live rollers I2, so that, regardless of which furnace first starts the discharge of plates, the transfer device is started in operation to shift the plates when they are in position to be transferred.

It is seen that, according to this invention, no time is lost during the movement of the hot plate, since it continues its forward movement without slackening while it is being moved by the bush bar to the center section to be placed in alignment with the rolling mill. As soon as the plate has reached the proper position for going into the rolling mill, the one push bar is automatically returned to its normal position and the other bar simultaneously acts to place a hot plate from the other furnace in position for feeding to the rollins mill.

As previously described, ordinarily the two furnaces discharge alternately. Sometimes, however, it is desirable that a number of sheets be taken successively from one furnace and, in that event, a by-pass switch may be provided, this to be operated by the attendant at the rolling mill. However, the arrangement described is intended for normal operation where the sheets are alternately discharged from the two furnaces.

While in illustrating this invention a single driving device has been described as operating both push bars simultaneously, obviously each bar could be separately operated without departing from the spirit of the invention which contemplates broadly all systems wherein the hot sheets are moved simultaneously in two directions, substantially as described.

Whereas one embodiment of the invention has been described for the purpose of illustration, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described, but many departures may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the inven-.

tion.

What is claimed is:

l. A sheet metal transfer device comprising three separate live roller conveyors in parallel relation, common means for rotating the rollers in said conveyors, the outer of said conveyors being arranged in front of each. of a pair of furnaces for conveying the hot plate discharged therefrom, and the central conveyor being in alignment with a rolling mill, said furnaces discharging hot plates alternately, and a single means alternately operated for shifting the hot plates from the outer conveyors onto the central conveyor while maintaining the axis of the plates parallel to the direction of the feed of the con veyors.

2. A sheet metal transfer device comprising three separate live roller conveyors in parallel relation, means for rotating the rollers in said conveyors at the same speed, the outer of said conveyors being arranged in front of each of a pair of furnaces for conveying the hot plate discharged therefrom, and the central conveyor being in alignment with a rolling mill, said furnaces discharging hot plates alternately, and common means alternately operated for shifting a hot plate from one outer conveyor onto the central conveyor, and then shifting another hot plate from the other outer conveyor onto the central conveyor and means forming a part of said transfer device whereby the said axes of said plates are maintained parallel to the direction of feed of the conveyors during such shifting.

3. A sheet metal transfer device comprising three separate live roller conveyors in parallel relation, means for rotating the rollers in said conveyors, the outer of said conveyors being arranged in front of each of a pair of furnaces for conveying the hot plate discharged therefrom, and the central conveyor being in alignment with a rolling mill, said furnaces discharging hot plates alternately, and means automatically operated by the movement of the hot plates for shifting a hot plate from one outer conveyor onto the central conveyor, and then shifting another hot plate from the other outer conveyor onto the central conveyor and means forming a part of said transfer device whereby the said axes of said plates are maintained parallel to the direction of feed of the conveyors during such shift- 4. A sheet metal transfer device comprising three separate live roller conveyors in parallel relation, means for rotating the rollers in said conveyors, the outer of said conveyors being ar-- ranged in front of each of a pair of furnaces for conveying the hot plate discharged therefrom, and the central conveyor being in alignment with a rolling mill, the direction of feed of said central conveyor being parallel to the direction of feed of the outer conveyors, said furances discharging hot plates alternately, means for shifting a hot'plate from one outer conveyor onto the central conveyor, and then shifting another hot plate from the other outer conveyor onto the central conveyor, the axes of such plates remaining parallel to the direction of feed. of the con veyors during such shifting and means associated with each of said outer conveyors for actuating said last mentioned means through the movement plate from the furnaces, a central conveyor to receive plates from such outer conveyors and means for alternately shifting hot plates from said outer conveyors transversely thereof onto said central conveyor, said plates having their axes maintained parallel to the direction of feed of such conveyors during such shifting.

6. A sheet metal transfer device for conveyin hot plates from a pair of alternately operated furnaces to a common rolling mill, comprising a pair of outer live roller conveyors, one in front of each of said furnaces for conveying the hot plate from the furnaces, a central live roller conveyor in alignment with said rolling mill the direction of feed of all of such conveyors being parallel to each other, and means for alternately shifting hot plates from said outer conveyors transversely thereof onto said central conveyor, and for placing the shifted plate in correct alignment for discharge to said rolling mill such shifting means maintaining the axes of such plates parallel to the direction of feed of the conveyors during such shifting. V

'7. A sheet metal transfer device for conveying hot plates from a pair of alternately operated furnaces to a common rolling mill, comprising a pair of outer live roller conveyors, one in front of each of said furnaces for conveying the hot plate from the furnaces, a central live roller conveyor in alignment withsaid rolling mill the direction of feed of all of such conveyors being parallel to each other, a push bar associated with each of said outer conveyors and arranged substantially parallel to the line of movement of the plate thereon for shifting the hot plate alternately from the outer conveyors onto the central conveyor, and means for moving said push bars transversely of said outer conveyors whereby such plates will have their axes maintained parallel to the direction of feed of such conveyors during such shifting.

8. A sheet metal transfer device for conveying hot plates from a pair of alternately operated furnaces to a common rolling mill, comprising a pair of outer live roller conveyors, one in front of each of said furnaces for conveying the hot plate from the furnaces, a central live roller conveyor in alignment with said rolling mill the direction of feed of all of such conveyors being parallel to each other, a push bar associated with each of said outer conveyors and arranged substantially parallel to the line of movement of the plate thereon for shifting the hot plate alternately from the outer conveyors onto the central conveyor whereby to maintain the axes of such plates parallel to the direction of feed of such conveyors during such shifting, means for moving said push bars transversely of said outer conveyors, and means operated by the discharge of the plates from the furnaces for placing said last mentioned means intoroperation.

9. A sheet metal transfer device for conveying hot plates from a pair of alternately operated furnaces to a common rolling mill, comprising a pair of outer live roller conveyors, one in front of each of said furnaces for conveying the hot plate from the furnaces, a central live roller conveyor in alignment with said rolling mill, a push bar associated with each of said outer conveyors and arranged substantially parallel to the line of movement of the plate thereon for shifting the hot plates alternately from the outer conveyors onto the central conveyor, and means for moving said push bars transversely of said outer conveyors, said bars being commonly connected so that While one is shifting a plate from its associated outer conveyor, the other is returning to receive a plate to be shifted from the other outer conveyor.

10. A sheet metal transfer device for conveying hot plates from a pair of alternately operated furnaces to a common rolling mill, comprising a pair of outer live roller conveyors, one in front of each of the furnaces, a central live roller conveyor in alignment with the rolling mill, all-of the rollers in each of said conveyors being connected to rollers in the other conveyors so as to be commonly rotated at the same speed all of such conveyors having a direction of feed parallel to each other, means for rotating said rollers, and means alternately operated for shifting the hot plates from the outer conveyors onto the central conveyor such shifting occurring while the axes of such plates are maintained parallel to the direction of conveyor feed.

11. A sheet metal transfer device for conveying hot plates from a pair of alternately operated furnaces to a common rolling mill, comprising a pair of outer live roller conveyors, one in front of each of said furnaces for conveying the hot plate from the furnaces, a central live roller conveyor in alignment with said rolling mill, a push bar associated with each of said outer conveyors and arranged substantially parallel to the line of movement of the plate thereon for shifting the hot plates alternately from the outer conveyors onto the central conveyor, means for moving said push bars transversely of said outer conveyors, said bars being commonly connected 7 SMITH EGGLESTON. 

